Ancelotti rules out Liverpool

Carlo Ancelotti has ruled himself out of the running to become Liverpool manager and revealed he won’t return to management until next season at the earliest.

Rumours have been amok over who would take over at Anfield following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers at the weekend with the former Chelsea boss heavily linked with the job along with ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ancelotti effectively cleared the path for Klopp, who won two Bundesliga titles and reached a Champions League final with Dortmund, by saying he did not want the job, but that he did want to return to management soon.

He said:

“I enjoy my time now but, of course, I want to come back to manage – to work – because it is my passion.

“I want to take my time to rest, but next season I am ready.”

Ancelotti has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid at the end of last season, despite leading the club to its tenth European Cup in 2014. He was dismissed following a trophy-less campaign in which fierce rivals Barcelona won the treble.

The Italian is well known in England having managed Chelsea for two seasons, the first in which he won the League and Cup double in 2010, and was dismissed after failing to retain either the next year. He took charge of French club PSG in between Chelsea and Real Madrid. He is one of the most successful managers of his generation with three European Cups to his name.